Holy Week and Easter Liturgies at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday
March 29, 2015 – April 5, 2015

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD – March 29th, 6:30 p.m.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the Proclamation of the Passion. It marks the beginning of Holy Week. Other Masses on Palm Sunday are: 5:15 p.m. (Anticipated Mass for Sunday); 8:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m. (procession and Solemn Mass); and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish). (no mult-box feed available)

HOLY THURSDAY CHRISM MASS – April 2nd, 9:40 a.m. (Procession); 10:00 a.m. (Mass)
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant and homilist. All Archdiocesan priests are invited to concelebrate with the Archbishop and to renew their priestly promises.

During this Mass, Archbishop Chaput will bless the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick as well as consecrate the Oil of Chrism. These holy oils will be used throughout the Archdiocese during the coming year in the celebration of the Sacraments. (mult-box feed available)

The Chrism Mass will be streamed live at www.archphila.org and broadcast live on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM as well as Holy Spirit Radio 1420 AM and 1570 AM.

HOLY THURSDAY MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER – April 2nd, 7:30 p.m.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant. This Mass commemorates the Last Supper, during which Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and gave us His commandment to love one another. After the homily, following the example of Christ who washed the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper, the Archbishop will wash the feet of seminarians from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament will continue until 11:00 p.m. (mult-box feed available)

GOOD FRIDAY PASSION OF THE LORD – April 3rd, 3:00 p.m.
Archbishop Edward J. Adams, the Apostolic Nuncio to Greece*, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, commemorating the Holy Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. There will be three hours of meditations on the Passion of Christ in the Cathedral from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. during which Confessions will be heard. (no mult-box feed available)

EASTER VIGIL – April 4th, 8:00 p.m.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Easter Vigil Mass celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord. The Easter Vigil contains four components: Service of Light (Blessing of the Fire and Lighting of the Paschal Candle), Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of Baptism, and the Liturgy of Eucharist.

After a reflective and intense period of prayer during Lent, Catechumens (those who have not been baptized) and Candidates (those who have been baptized) will become full members of the Catholic Church at the Cathedral and parishes throughout the Archdiocese at the Easter Vigil and during Easter Time. In 2015, close to 650 new Catholics will be welcomed into the Church. (no mult-box feed available)

EASTER SUNDAY MASS – April 5th, 12:30 p.m.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the celebrant and homilist at the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord. Other Masses on Easter Sunday are: 8:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. (Spanish Mass in Cathedral Chapel); and 11:00 a.m. There will not be a 6:30 p.m. Mass. (no mult-box feed available)

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Editor’s Note: There will be a mult-box feed provided for the Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, April 2nd, 2015. Crews will need a bnc connector and recording deck or a live truck. Broadcast Media outlets will have parking space in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center parking lot. The parking lot entrance is located on 17th Street.

Reporters and still photographers will be permitted in the Cathedral but are asked to remain in the designated area for the media (by the side pillars). All media (including still photographers and video cameras) are asked to remain clear of the center aisles at all times.

For Masses that do not have a mult-box feed, video and still cameras are permitted in the Cathedral with the above restrictions.

*Archbishop Adams was ordained to the priesthood in 1970 by John Cardinal Krol and began his priestly service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747